The San Antonio Spurs confirmed on Friday that Gregg Popovich has concluded his coaching duties and will transition into a full-time position as the team`s president of basketball operations.
At 76, Popovich steps away as the NBA`s all-time winningest coach, boasting 1,422 regular-season wins, five NBA championships, and three Coach of the Year titles (tying the league record). His successor will be Mitch Johnson, who served as acting head coach after Popovich`s mild stroke in November and has now been appointed to the role permanently.
We consulted our NBA experts to address the key questions surrounding this decision, such as the reasons behind it, the future direction of the franchise, and what Johnson offers as San Antonio aims to build a championship-caliber team around emerging star Victor Wembanyama, guard De`Aaron Fox, and recent Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
1. The Rationale Behind Popovich`s Decision
The Spurs organization felt Popovich had earned the privilege of choosing his retirement timing. Popovich himself maintained he would only continue coaching if his physical health permitted. He expressed continued passion for coaching in recent years, finding energy in developing young talent. However, he ultimately concluded that transitioning to a supportive role for Johnson, whom he greatly admired and considered a strong successor, was the right move.
2. League Reactions to the Transition
The news brings a sense of relief and clarity. Popovich had been contemplating his coaching future in recent months, which explains the ambiguity in his mid-season announcement about not returning that season. Given his status as NBA royalty, there were health concerns surrounding the legendary coach, particularly following a recent hospital visit.
Popovich leaves the Spurs in an excellent state. Beyond his five titles, one of his significant achievements is ensuring a smooth succession plan. A veteran league executive commented, “He accepted numerous losses over the past few years unnecessarily; it was a selfless act. The team is now poised for success. While he won`t be coaching courtside, his influence is evident in the team`s upcoming generation.”
Popovich was not only willing to navigate the challenging phases of a rebuild in his final years but also cultivated and sustained a distinguished organizational culture. Many rival teams have sought to replicate it by hiring personnel from the Spurs` front office and coaching staff. This culture is expected to endure.
He also played a key role in preparing his successor, granting Johnson increasing responsibilities. Popovich occasionally had Johnson lead late-game huddles even before he became acting head coach. The Spurs have a history of grooming assistants, treating them like young players by identifying and developing high-potential candidates.
Had this coaching position been publicly available (which it wasn`t, as the Spurs manage their affairs discreetly), it would have been highly coveted across the league. Upon learning of Popovich`s move to president, the league widely anticipated Johnson`s appointment. While internal succession can be problematic in the NBA, in San Antonio, it`s a strength. Popovich has consistently prioritized and safeguarded this approach, and the league recognizes he is passing on this tradition.
3. Profile of Mitch Johnson and His Appointment
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray has recounted multiple times how Johnson significantly impacted his life as a teenager, helping him overcome challenges and establish a disciplined academic and basketball routine that led him to college and the NBA. This history brought Johnson to the Spurs` attention during their 2016 draft evaluation of Murray, recognizing his coaching and communication abilities and adding him to the G League affiliate staff.
Murray shared that when Johnson helped him when he was 15, they said, “We are in this together.” They agreed to put in the work and see where it would lead. Even in the league, they didn`t foresee everything that`s happened, but they both committed to the work, and the rest became history.
Johnson advanced rapidly within the Spurs, serving as an assistant under Popovich for the past six seasons, including five years as a front-row assistant since 2020. Mitch is the son of former two-time NBA All-Star John `J.J.` Johnson. As a player, Mitch excelled in high school (winning two state titles) and was a four-year starter at Stanford, playing alongside future pros like Brook and Robin Lopez.
Brook Lopez described Johnson as “Maestro” in college for his ability to “conduct and run the show.” Lopez stated, “His current position isn`t surprising. He deserves it. He`s an incredibly intelligent basketball player, the highest basketball IQ I`ve encountered.”
Inside the Spurs, Johnson earned respect from Popovich, CEO RC Buford, and GM Brian Wright, particularly for his handling of a challenging season marked by Popovich`s health issue and Wembanyama`s shoulder injury. Johnson`s leadership remained steady during difficult road trips and situations. He maintained player accountability, and his messages resonated effectively. The players consistently performed hard for Johnson, which impressed the team`s leadership.
Wembanyama commented, “I trust the organization. I also believe Mitch will develop well in this position. I feel we are in good hands with everyone supporting each other.”
4. Spurs Offseason Preview
Confirming the head coach position was the Spurs` immediate priority. Attention now turns to the draft lottery. San Antonio holds its own first-round pick plus an additional first from Atlanta. San Antonio`s probability of securing the top pick is 6%, while Atlanta`s is 0.7%.
Regarding the current roster, ten players are under contract, highlighted by consecutive Rookie of the Year winners, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. The acquisition of De`Aaron Fox positions San Antonio for another significant roster upgrade if a star player like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes available.
The Spurs also possess a pick swap right with Atlanta next year and the Hawks` unprotected 2027 first-round pick. Their draft capital includes a total of six first-round picks over the next eight years, several pick swaps, and seventeen second-round picks. Substantial player contracts include those for Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Keldon Johnson.
August 3rd is a key date, marking when Fox becomes eligible for a four-year, $229 million max contract extension. Chris Paul`s future is also worth monitoring; after playing a full 82-game season on a one-year deal, he is now an unrestricted free agent.
5. San Antonio`s Outlook for Next Season
Qualifying for the 2026 playoffs is a realistic expectation, and missing out could be seen as disappointing. This season, San Antonio had a 21-25 record in the 46 games Wembanyama played, with only five of those appearances featuring De`Aaron Fox after the midseason trade and Wembanyama`s absence due to a blood clot.
While managing Wembanyama`s development cautiously helped secure another lottery pick this year (and Castle last year), the addition of Fox and accumulated future picks means it`s time for the young core to gain experience in competitive games.
Historically, only a few players (Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, Dwight Howard, LeBron James) have made an All-NBA team before age 21.5, a milestone Wembanyama was nearing before his injury sidelined him. These elite players typically made their playoff debuts by their third NBA season, with Howard and James doing so in Year 3.
The primary challenge for the Spurs is the strength of the Western Conference; this past season, no playoff team finished with fewer than 48 wins. While no obvious teams are expected to drop out of the playoff picture, unexpected shifts occurred last season with Houston and Memphis reaching the top eight while New Orleans and Phoenix dropped out.
At a minimum, San Antonio should be able to secure a spot in the play-in tournament, which they haven`t done since 2022. A healthy Wembanyama might have even given them a shot at the 10th seed this year. However, the ambition should be higher: aiming for a top-six seed in the West, which the Spurs last achieved in 2019. This represents the NBA`s second-longest active playoff drought, trailing only the Charlotte Hornets.